Electrical water-heater.



PATENTED APR, 14, 1908: B. J. UONDON.

2 SHEETS-SEEM 1.

H m en for;

ELECTRICAL WATER HEATER. APPLICATION lILBD JUNE 8, 1907 No. 884,367. 'PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. B. J. GONDON.

ELECTRICAL WATER HEATER.

APPLI ATION FILED U a 190 0 J M 7 mums-sums.

"is 5 mm 1 EDwaitnJ: (IONDONY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., Assiouon or one-raise 'ro ELEAZER 1. RAINS AND ONE-THIRD 'ro onoaoa w. aurrnnr, no'ru orNsw YORK, N. v.

ELECTRICAL warren-HEATER.

5 York,=in the State of New York, have in' vented 'cer't'ain new and useful Improvementsin Electrical Water-Heaters; of which the following is a specification, reference bo- .ing had to the accompanying drawings, formmg a part hereof. Y

heaters mt the eneral character of that shown and descri ed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 861,811, dated July 3.0, 1907, and it hasfor its general object .toimrove' the-construction and operation of such eatersas wili be more fully explained hereinafter. 1

The special objects of the invention are to improve the construction and arrangement [of theineans for. supporting; and connecting the pipes through which. the electrical heating current and the Water to be heated flow with a'view to securing. the greatest efliciency of Short circuit/lag of the. electrical current across parts otthe apparatusyand reducing the liability lie-breakage of the parts as well as to the grounding cl theelectrical current or other results ofbreakage, to" improve the mechanical construction of the a -i'paratus; and to'irnprove the apiaratus-in other respects as 'wilhbe pointeo out.

, The-invention is illustrated in the accomanying drawings as embodied in a convenlent iormof apparatus and in said drawings. Figure'l is a vie'w irrelevation, with the outer casing and the main operating shaft in section, of the ini )roved apparatus. Fig. 2 a section on; the plane indicated a by i the broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the plane indicated by the. broken line of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail section on the plane indicated by the-line 4-4 of Fi 2. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the plane in ioated by the broken line 5---5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 isa topview of the controlling switch, on a larger scale.- Fig. 7 is a detail view a partly in section and part1 y in elevation illus tinting a modified embodiment of the inventron; Fig. Sis a detail view-one. larger scale,,of-or ie,of the bushin s shown in Fig. 7.

' lhis invention relates to electrical water of the-apparatus, preventing the possibility.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

porcelain. or other in the embodiment of the invention illus l trated in'Fig. 1- of the drawings; the apparatus compr ses-a suitable base a, which Patented April 14,1908.

Application tiled June a. 1907. ser iums'rmm. I

preferably rectanguhir and incloscs the controlllng mechanism hereinafter described,

Qai'ldgan outer shell or casing l) which is erected upon the base a amd ineloses and protects the heatinglubes; in this form of the ap- 6Q paratus there is provided a main body a oi suitable noncomlucting material, having extended through it a ph'e rality of longitudinal chambers c which-forn'i tubes for the )assage of water to be heated. Disks are hdldagainst the ends of the body 0, -as by a-discharge pipe 0 provided with nuts and washers c". The caps or disks 0 serve to'support the conducting tubes (l, as hereinafter described, and tie-provide conncction, both for the electrical current and for the water, from one conducting tube to another as well as connection from one chamber or tube 0 to another. A packing c is in lerposed bet ween the main body 0 and the cap or disk r" at each end to prevent leakage of water and to confine it to its intended course." The conducting tubes (1 are somewhat longer than the body 0, irojecting beyond the same at-the'ends, and are seated in sleeves c which are preferably molded in the )orcelain or other nonconducting material. l Vithin each sleeve-is a bushing (2 preferably threaded intothe sleeve and forming a tight ioint with the end of the conducting tube, a 35 lead washer rbbeing preferably interposed between the tube and the bushing. The bushing has one or more ports, as at c, establishing communication between the central bore of the bushing and a channel .0 9;) which may be formed about the same. .A plug 0 is threaded into the outer end of the sleeve cf to make a tight joint and prevent the ieakageof water at this point, a lead or other washer or packing 0 being interposed, if necessary. 'lhe sleeves c are united in pairs, alternately at opposite ends of the ody c, by other sleeves c, for which seats are formed in thecaps or blocks 0*, the corresponding ports a" of the sleeves 0 being con- 10o nectedby the sleeve 0" so that a continuous channel for the wateris formed from' one tube d to the next in series. A channel a in the cap or block 0 also all'ords communication from one chamber or *tube 0 to thelosnext inorder. It will be understood that the connections between the tubes (Z and the chambers c in the bOttOlIlblUUli or cap 0' are effected in the same manner as inthe top cap or block 0 so that no further description or illustration is required. The tubes are connected at the top and at the bottom in alternation and the last tube (1 of the series terminates within the tube or chamber c and the latter is not connected at the corresponding end to the next tube or chamber 0. As shown in Fig. 5 the last tube or chamber c of the series communicates through a channel 0 in the lower block 0 and a port 0 within the outlet tube 0 A continuous channel for the water is thus formed from the inlet 0 through the conducting and heating tubes a. in succession'and through the chambers c in succession to the outlet pipe 0. The pipes cl' are heated by the electric current w ich is conducted to them, as hereinafter described, and as the water moves in contact with the interior and the exterior of each tube it is quickly heated and the maximum efficiency of the electric current employed is realized. As indicated by dotted lines at d, in Figs; 4 and 5, ports might be formed in the tubes d to communicate with the chambers 0' so that the water may flow in the same direction through and outside of the tubes (1, instead of flowing first through all of the tubes (1 in series and then through all oft he chambers c in series. It wi l be understood that the plugs 11 are accessible from outside of the caps or blocks 0 so that each bushing can be adjusted to make a tightjoint with the corresponding tube d. The sleeve 0" which connects the two sleeves 0 is threaded into said sleeves and as all joints ar'thus threaded joints, not only can tight connections be. made but there is no danger of creating leaks by melting out solder as would be the case if the connections were made by soldering.

The water to be ,heated is supplied from a suitable source through a pipe 6 which is directly connected, as by a pipe e with the inlet 0" through which water is admitted to the heating element, and there also provided a by-pass e by which water may be supplied directly to the outlet pipe 0'' without assing through the heating pipes; As fully described in said application for Letters Patent,

the main supply pipe c" and the by-pass e" are controlled by valves which are operated from a single handle in. sucli a manner that the water which first flows from the outlet c is at or near the normal tentperature of the water supplied to the heater and. is then gradually raised in temperature until the highest temperature is reached all of this being effected by movement of the controlling handle from its initial point in one direction. The construction of the valves by which this result is accomplished may be the same as that shown in said application for Letters Patent of the United States and need not be further described herein.

The spindlesf and g" of the two valves are provided respectively with gears h and It which are engaged by a common int-erme diate gear it provided with a controlling handle it applied to its shaft it (see Figs. 1 and -6). The movement of the handle it from its initial position in one direction effects the opening of both valves and the continued movement of the handle closes the, by-pass valve until the How of water through the bypass is cut off altogether, when the maximum temperature of the water is attained. If the handle be moved from its initial position in the opposite direction the by-pass valve alone is opened so that the water flows from the outlet pipe without being heated.

The electrical connections for supplying current to the conducting and heating tubes d of carbon or'other suitable material are similar to those described in said application for Letters Patent, but differ in some details as will now be described. These connections are controlled manually by the movements of the controlling handle h and also automatically by the flow of water to the heating tubes. The controlling means are so arranged that no current flows when both valves are closed and so that a switch is closed immediately after the movement, of the controlling handle 71 to open the valve in the pipe c has commenced, the circuit through the heater beiin completed automatically as soon as the t ow of water to the heatin tubes has assumed some volume.

' As s own in Fig. 1 of the drawings connection with one side of the main supply circuit is made at k and thence by bindin post k to one member k of a snap switc the other member k of which is connected by I wire is with an automatic circuit closer at m, which is substantially the same as that shown in said application for Letters Patent.

From the other side of the automatic circuitcloser m connection is made by wire it" with the first of the series of tubes (1. The current passes through the tubes (1 in succession, causing them to. become highly heated in its passage, and from the last one of the tubes d the circuit is completed as by wire It" to the battery or other source of current. The switch is, k is arranged to be closed quickly on proper movement of' the controlling handie 72. For this purpose the shaft It carries a hub '72 u on which is loosely mounted an operating ever It, a sprin It being also mounted on the hub h to hoiil the lever 71' in operative position but permitting it to yield. ()n the spindle Ir of the switch is mounted a lever k with which the OIFIfiiLiIlg legverkh' i? he mem er 4 o arranged to cooperate. the switch is pivoted upon the spindle k and is provided with two stops k and k" between which the lever k is free to swing. A spring k has its ends connected respectively to the member k of the switch and the lever k. The arts are properly related inposition, as s iown in Fig. 6, so that when they are in theposition indicated by a in licniod at in Fig. 7.

ftion lhc'cnps or blocks c have molded thereprm'idod with holes sewer spring Fe -holds the switch open. controlling hsihille 71 left the operatinglever h engages the lever in which. movement the spring k is carried over the center of oscillation and therefore w acts upon the switch member to snap the s'aine into. contuct with the switch member ot'the lever 16, being hnn'iedintely restored to proper posltion' to engage the lever" 1c in the "5 returnmovement of; the handle" it, Yluring which movement tlr'e'switch is snapped open as soon as the spring k iscarried beyond the other suitable insulating nmtcrinl, but obviously ouch tube (5 mightbc surrounded by a separate lube i i" porcelain orothcr suitable insulating or nonconducling material, as In this constrnc in sleeves 0 which are threaded to receive smiling hoxcs 0 by which tight joints are n'nulc-witli the outer tubes 0 Asccond sleeve 0, also molded in'thc l'ilock or cap c is" oxtcndcd through the sleeve 0 and is slotted at its cxtrcniity' to form spacing lingersby which the tube (1 is centered with respect to the tube. c; the slots between the llllQI-ls slim-dingpassage for water. A bushing 0'' having an enlarged cndo'which is thr aded for engagement with the slcc c ot' mill in slightly lcss enlarged cod 0'', sloth-d, as :11 o". llilflflllll'. l'rcc passage of the Water and oTl'or the some purpose, is screwed into the slccvc 0" against the end ol' the lobe of, to establish electrical connection between lhc lube and the sleeve 0, a loud \vnshcr o b ing interposed between the cod ol' the bushing: and the end of the tube if necessary to lllnlll't. contact.- A plug; 0" is screwed inlo the sleeve o' ngninst the end ol' i intl posed packing 0' to soul the joint. A chnnncl is provided from. ouch sleeve 0" lo the next of the series in order, tLl. one end or the other of the lube nndrlcctrical conncclion is lit thc some linw -slnblishcd, by a sleeve 0'" which is thrcmh at its i-nds into the coi'rcspmnling slccvcs o". Ports 1/" are formed in the tubes 1/. to permit is moved over to the fish the continued movement of the hen-f dle h". after the switch has been closed the i'i'perating lever 'h yiclds'nnd slips by the end' sct'forth insuid so in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig, I all of the older tubes or chainbers c I :inlullmll in the one holly of porcelain or 5 k and swings itto the dotted line position,

nolhcr'or by hrcu lkiigeoi n tube.

full lines the. 1 the flow of the water outside of the tubes as As the well as through them. Water connections and electrical connections are provided in this construction substantially as previously described with respect to the construe: tion shown in Fig: 1 and the operation is the same as in the cnseo'f the construction shown in Fig, i, the water, howevlir, flowing through and. outside of each of the tubes d in series from one to another.

In the improved construction shown and described herein, whether in. one form or another, it will be seen that the employment of a threaded coupling or connection between the conducting tubes enables the use of solder to be? dispensed with'and therefore avoids the danger of melting; out the solder by the passage of the electrical current; with the consi-qucnt creation of leul s,besidcs pcrmitting ('losc contact end tight joints"to be inside. Furti'icrinore, gist-sch conducting and heating tube inclosed in n separate chamber, whether such separate chmnbcrs are formed by separate tubes or inn common body, the'dnnger of shunting of the electrical current 'i'rom one terminal to another is avoided, as well as thodangcr of short circniliiig by occidental contact of' one tube with For the some reason, also, tlic'olm'tricnl current ran not/ ho grounded on the hose orontcr casing or other pzirtollhc apparatus and the danger from this source is therefore avoided. Should any tulle break it can he removed readily and replaced by another.

It will lac undcrstoml that various changes in details of honslrnclion and :irrungeincnt can he made and thnt thc invention, lhrreforefis not restricted to the precise construction shown and described herein. I

l claim my inventions 1. An electrical water heater comprising a )lurality ()l chambers having walls of insulating mall-rial and s-ulapted to permit the pns-- Sttg'fl ol' wntcr therethrouglu conducting and heating pipes within said chinnbers rcspcc lively and also adapted l'ulr the passage of water therothrougrh, and means to supply electrical current to said cosmic-ting nnd limiting: pi es.

2. An cll otrical water heater comprising n plurality of chambers having lmncomlucting wells and adapted-for the passage of water thcrclhrml gh and connnumulling onc with another in series, conducting, and limiting. pipes disposed within said clnnnbcrs and also adopted lot" the passage of water therethrough and connected one with nnothcrin I body of insulating chambers res ectivel and also adapted for the passageo watert eret-hrough, and means to supply electrical current to said conducting and heating ipes.

4. An electrica water heater comprising a material having a lurality of chambers t sage of water therethrough communicating with another in series, conducting and heating pipes centrally placed in said chambers respectively and a so adapted for the passage of water therethrough and connected one with another in series, and means to supply electrical current to said conducting and heating pi es.

5. An e ectrical water heater comprising a body of insulating material having a plural- 'ity of chambers adapted for the passage of water therethrou h, conducting and heating pipes centrally pfaced in said chambers respectively and adapted for the passage of water therethrough, blocks or caps for the ends of said body of insulating material, couplings for connecting said conducting and heating tubes carried by said blocks or caps, means for securing said blocks or ca s in osition upon the ends of said body of insu ating material and means to su ply electrical current to said conductim and ieating tubes. 6. An electrical water heater comprismg a plurality of conducting and heating tubes, connections for said tubes, each comprising two longitudinal sleeves and a transverse sleeve having screw threaded engagement with said longitudinal sleeves, and means to supply electrical current to said tubes.

. 7. An electrical water heater comprising a plurality of conducting and heating tubes,

connections for said tubes, each comprising two longitudinal sleeves, with a bushing and a screwed plug in each and atransverse sleeve having screw threaded engagement with said longitudinal sleeves, and means to supply electrical current to said tubes.

erein adapted for t 1e pas- 8. An electrical water heater comprising a plurality of conducting and heating tubes, 1 connections for said tubes, each comprising two longitudinal sleeves and a transverse gsleeve having screw threaded engagement l with said longitudinal sleeves, a block or cap of insulating material supporting said connections, and means to supply electrical cur- 1 rent to said tubes.

9. An electrical water heater comprising a i plurality of conducting and heating tubes, l connections for said tubes, each comprising l two longitudinal sleeves with a' bushin l screw plug in each and a transverse s eeve I having screw threaded engagement w1th said longitudinal sleeves, blocks or caps in which said connections are seated at opposite ends of said tubes, and means to supply electrical current to said tubes.

10. An electrical water heater comprising conducting and heating tubes, valve" controlled means to supply water thereto, an o erating handle therefor, means to suppl e ectrical current thereto, and a snap switc operated by the movement of said handle to open and close the electrical circuit.

11. An electrical water heater comprising ccification signed and witnessed this 7th ay of June, A. 1)., 1907.

EDW'ARD J. CONDON. Signed in the resence of ELLA J. (RUGER,

\ AMBROSE L. OSHEA.

and

conducting and heating tubes, valve con-. 

